Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-04-18
w. e. TAYLOR.

prison. When the war broke out prison
ers became so plenty that quarters could
not oe found for them, and the already
historical building again passed into
the hands Of the government. 1t was
peculiarly adapted tor prison, the walls
were thick and of stone, and il did not
take long TO convert 1t to its new uses.
The war over, it changed hands once
ag&iu This time the inside was torn
out, g. mansard roof edded, separating
walls we're built, and presto, three SPLEEN
did dwellings took the place of the
dreary prison. They were put on sale
and found takers readily. Senator EvartS
Of New York bought one, though it is
not now his residence. Adjutant-GeneraI
Drum Of the army, smother, and the third
was purchased by Cyrus w. Field, the
tiuaGCier, who presented it to his brother,
the Associate Justice Since he came
into possession Of the property, Justice
Field has purchased ar adjoining lot ard
erected g large two STORY annex, half as
large as the house itself.
Apart from its historical interest, the
place is pleasant and restful to the eye.
Situated on nigh sIoping terrace, it over
looks the beautiful Capitol park and faces
the magnificent structure. From the
library windows you get a splendid view
Of Arlington Heights, the beautiful bend
of the Potomac, and the city lying west.
In this library you will find Justice
Field at work every morning by
O'Clock, and here he sits until II,
digging away at his books, keeping
up his correspondence or writing
mis- opinions for the court. Like num-
Der of his associates on the Supreme
bench, he does all of his work in the
morning When he was appointed, nearly
twenty-five years ago, ne began doing or
trying to do his work in the evening, but
he soon found that the demands of Wash
ington society took nearly every evening,
and when he was not out, his house was
full of company. So he made up his
mind that ne must work in the mornings,
and since that has been his practice, he
has never been in q hurry and has always
had all the time he wanted.
But to return to the library. 1t is in
the annex We elmo the ten or j dozen
steps up to the inclined terrace and enter
q small wicket gate which leads into
pretty little garden at the side. There is
flight of stairs leading from this little
garden directly to the library, and we also
climb them. The room is large and high,
and lighted from every side. l should
say there were about 1000 volumes
in the bookcases, most of them with
the severe sheep binding, indicating
their legal character. 1t is not literary
but working library, though there are
some handsomely bound books of standard
authors. On every spot of the wall not
occupied by bookcases is q portrait,
either an engraving or a photograph.
None of them are large and there are
great number of them. All of his $3.50
ciates ca the bench, past and present,
are well represented, and the numerous
Field family have prominent places.
Meeting Justice Field in his library
where everything is study and method
and precision, and observing his deliber-
ate manner, his quiet way of talking, and
seeing him surrounded with such per-
fectly subdued influences, it is difficult to
imagine him the hero of the mining camps
in the days when human life was lsughed .
al, or the shipWrecked traveller, or the
lawyer whose life was always in danger
in the early days of California. a
stranger could hardly imagine this man,
so gentle and considerate, had ever been